When they’re not running a bout of self-justification on why the latest writer has had no choice but to use private schools, you can count on the Evening Standard to run a puff piece vindicating the “trailblazing” Mr Gove for his agenda of private-sector involvement in state education. Bookmarks Hide Sites
Posts under ‘Media’
The media barons’ last pitiful throw
May 1st, 2013 by Michael Meacher.They really have got a nerve. After unanimous agreement of all parties in Parliament for a Royal Charter to ensure proper press standards (which among the UK tabloids at present are arguably the worst in Europe), they deign to produce an alternative without a shred of remorse or apology so that they can carry on exactly as [...]
The Barclay brothers’ cuckoo in Labour’s nest
Apr 23rd, 2013 by Mark Seddon.Walking in the Northamptonshire woods over the weekend, I heard that harbinger of spring, the cuckoo, calling for the first time. It is an unmistakeable sound to be sure, but one that very quickly becomes quite repetitive. There are other traits associated with cuckoos that don’t exactly endear them to many, most notably the propensity [...]
Sketch: Thatcher and the Ministry of Truth
Apr 17th, 2013 by Paul Davies.PAUL DAVIES assesses the “rewriting of history” seen in the days since Thatcher’s death It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith only had time for a short break from his work at the Ministry of Truth this lunchtime. He had to get back soon; there was [...]
Ding dong the witch is dead – Tories seek to crush power of free market
Apr 12th, 2013 by Jon Lansman.Whatever you think of the good taste of celebratory Thatcher death partying, it is an interesting spectator sport watching the Tories tie themselves up in knots over a chart-topping Wizard of Oz song and whether the BBC should permit the “free market” in music downloads to determine what it plays (admission: I’ve downloaded two versions [...]
France’s L’Humanité: the secret of the radical daily’s success
Apr 11th, 2013 by Tom Gill.Interview with L’Humanité editorial director Patrick Apel-Muller by Vittorio Bonanni (translated by Tom Gill) Patrick Apel-Muller is a journalist of L’Humanité, he’s what in France is called the editorial director. A senior editor with some extra powers. So nearly a director, although formally this role is played by the Communist MEP Patrick Le Hyaric, but [...]
After Philpott: Labour should make a positive case for welfare
Apr 8th, 2013 by David Osler.The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, as the Kevin Spacey character argues in The Usual Suspects, is convincing the world that he doesn’t exist. Given our government’s success in persuading the electorate, millions of claimants included, that it doesn’t need the welfare state, I’m starting to suspect that Old Nick numbers among Lynton Crosby’s sources [...]
The Demonisation of Paris Brown
Apr 8th, 2013 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.It’s Sunday, and that means prime time for the right-wing press to hypocritically vent at an unfortunate hate figure. And for 7th April, that most unwelcome of spotlights has fallen on one Paris Brown (pictured), Youth Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent. Her crime? The Mail thunders “Is this foul-mouthed, self-obsessed Twitter teen really the future [...]
The Daily Mail – a vile product
Apr 3rd, 2013 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.Could this be the most disgusting headline to have hit news stands since The Sun‘s coverage of Hillsborough? The dehumanising of the children (“bred 17 babies”), the welfare-baiting headline, the sideswipe at social workers; seldom has a tragedy been exploited so brazenly and cynically to score political points. And for the judgement to land at [...]
Floodgates for Boris Johnson? No, Mair is the exception
Mar 25th, 2013 by Conrad Landin.If you’re on Twitter, Facebook or any outlet of the internet, you’ll no doubt have heard all about the occasion yesterday when Boris Johnson was given a standard BBC grilling. I put it like that because Eddie Mair’s interview was not unusual – it was simply unusual for Johnson. It was still not near the [...]
